Corporal Lee Wigley and Corporal Levi Scarlett at the launch of the Help for Heroes football match at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry

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A soldier has spoken of his excitement at being handed the captain’s armband as his team prepares to face a line-up of football legends in his home city.

Corporal Levi Scarlett, aged 29, of Stoke, Coventry will captain the Defence Medical Services football team when they take on former Premier League and international legends at the Ricoh on May 4.

The event, named Football for Heroes, has been organised by football organisation FootballCV and is in aid of military charity Help for Heroes.

Corp Scarlett, who plays centre-back, said: “When I heard we would be playing at the Ricoh, I was over the moon.

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“As a Coventry lad I’ve obviously played in the city, and I’m more used to playing on soggy, flooded pitches than in big arenas like this. It’s obviously a dream to play here, there’s no bigger stadium.

“We have played in a couple of stadiums before but nothing of this size or scale.

“We have played in front of crowds up to 1,000 people, but at the Ricoh it can hold 30,000.

“It would be good if we could fill a stand.”

As well as the excitement of playing at the venue, Cpl Scarlett said the match supported a worthwhile cause.

He said: “Events like this are important for a few reasons, the main one is to raise awareness of Help for Heroes.

“It is important for the guys who get injured to know that there are people out there that care about them and want to support them.

“The fact we get to play in the Ricoh is just a bonus, we will treat it like any other game and try to raise as much money as we can for a great cause.”

Another Coventry soldier will also be playing on his home turf at the game as Cpl Lee Wigley lines up in midfield for the forces team.

Corp Wigley, aged 25, from Willenhall, said: “It is going to be really exciting, I can’t wait. Usually, in the areas we are playing, we don’t get friends coming to watch because we are all over the world.

“Playing in Coventry means more friends and family can come to watch and it will be the first time many of them have seen us play in years.

“For me and Levi, being from Coventry, we are going to have lots of people there. I can’t wait for the tickets to be rolled out. I can assure you all my friends and family will be coming!”